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Article
Publication date: 28 May 2024

Terence Y.M. Lam and Keith S. Gale

Construction framework agreements are identified by the UK Government’s Construction Strategy 2025 as an integrated procurement path to improve construction industry efficiency…

Abstract

Purpose

Construction framework agreements are identified by the UK Government’s Construction Strategy 2025 as an integrated procurement path to improve construction industry efficiency. However, criticisms from the industry have arisen from the lack of transparency and incorrect application of such frameworks. This paper aims to examine the client and supplier relationships within a framework agreement to discover what behaviour change drivers should be applied in the framework process to achieve the desired project outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A triangulation approach was adopted. An initial literature review on organisational behaviour and job performance theories was conducted followed by a qualitative expert review survey of client construction managers to confirm the project outcomes desired by public-sector clients and the associated behaviour change drivers. This was followed by a qualitative multiple-case study investigation of eight typical framework projects to form a commonality of views to explain the impact of behaviour change drivers on project outcomes.

Findings

Results from both qualitative studies demonstrated that improvements in project outcomes of time, cost, quality, sustainability and closer relationships can be driven by two sets of behaviour drivers: client organisational behaviour change drivers (setting up incentive and risk-sharing procurement approach, effective communication through development of stronger relationships and performance monitoring using contract key performance indicators) and supplier contextual behaviour change drivers (motivating conscientious behaviour and attitude towards self-improvement and innovations, supporting shared culture of providing services aligning with the client needs, promoting learning and development amongst all suppliers and most importantly providing trust and collaboration to the client).

Research limitations/implications

The investigation was based on an expert review with eight multiple-case studies conducted within the geographical area of England. Further research should be conducted nationwide so that the findings can become more robust and benefit the entire public sector.

Practical implications

It is suggested that framework managers should apply the supplier contextual performance drivers as selection criteria in the procurement process, whilst the client organisational performance drivers should be applied in the whole procurement and construction monitoring process to drive project outcomes aligned with the government construction policy objectives.

Originality/value

This research demonstrates that the project behaviour of clients and suppliers can be shifted within the construction framework environment to yield the desired project outcomes. This can be achieved by applying the client organisational behaviour drivers and the supplier contextual behaviour change drivers in tandem to optimise the framework process.

Details

Construction Innovation , vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 May 2024

Xingmin Liu, Tongsheng Zhu, Yutong Xue, Ziqiang Huang and Yun Le

Carbon reduction in the construction supply chain can critically affect the construction industry’s transition to an environmentally sustainable one. However, implementing carbon…

Abstract

Purpose

Carbon reduction in the construction supply chain can critically affect the construction industry’s transition to an environmentally sustainable one. However, implementing carbon reduction in all parties is restricted because of the poor understanding of the drivers influencing the low-carbon construction supply chain (LCCSC). The purpose of this paper is to systematically identify the drivers of LCCSC, analyze their causality, and prioritize the importance of their management.

Design/methodology/approach

A decision-making analysis process was developed using an integrated decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)–analytical network process (ANP). First, the hierarchical drivers of the LCCSC were identified through a literature review. The DEMATEL method was subsequently applied to analyze the interactions between the drivers, including the direction and strength of impact. Finally, the ANP analysis was used to obtain the drivers’ weights; consequently, their priorities were established.

Findings

Various factors with complex interactions drive LCCSC. With respect to their influence relationships, incentive policy, regulatory policy, consumers’ low-carbon preference, market competition, supply chain performance, and managers’ low-carbon awareness have more significant center degrees and are cause drivers. Their strong correlations and influence on other drivers should be noticed. In terms of weights in the driver system, regulatory policy, consumers’ low-carbon preference, supply chain performance, and incentive policy are the key drivers of LCCSC and require primary attention. Other drivers, such as supply chain collaboration, employee motivation, and public participation, play a minor driving role with less management priority.

Originality/value

Despite some contributing studies with localized perspectives, the systematic analysis of LCCSC drivers is limited, especially considering their intricate interactions. This paper establishes the LCCSC driver system, explores the influence relationships among the drivers, and determines the key drivers. Hence, it contributes to the sustainable construction supply chain domain by enabling decision-makers and practitioners to systematically understand the drivers of LCCSC and gain management implications on priority issues with limited resources.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 April 2024

Kasun Gomis, Mandeep Saini, Chaminda Pathirage and Mohammed Arif

The need to enhance student support is evident in higher education (HE) curricula. In addition to the complications created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the current strategies used…

Abstract

Purpose

The need to enhance student support is evident in higher education (HE) curricula. In addition to the complications created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the current strategies used in academia are criticised for their lack of appropriate student support in HE. The study focused on the themes under Section 4 of the National Student Survey (NSS): availability to contact tutors, receiving good advice and guidance and availability of good advice. The study aimed to provide recommendations for enhancing academic support by developing drivers that need implementation during course delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

A documental analysis and a qualitative survey were adopted for this study. A documental analysis of 334 mid-module reviews (MMRs) from levels three to six students in the built environment (BE) discipline. Critical themes identified from the MMRs were fed forward in developing a questionnaire for academics. A sample of 23 academics, including a Head of school, a Principal lecturer, Subject leads and Lecturers, participated in the questionnaire survey. Content analysis is adopted through questionnaire data to develop drivers to enhance academic support in BE. These drivers are then modelled by interpretive structural modelling (ISM) to identify their correlation to NSS Section 4 themes. A level partition analysis establishes how influential they are in enhancing academic support.

Findings

The study identified nine drivers, where two drivers were categorised as fundamental, two as significant, four as important, and one insignificant in enhancing academic support in HE. Module leaders’/tutors’ improving awareness and detailing how academic support is provided were identified as fundamental. Differentiating roles in giving advice and the importance of one-to-one meetings were identified as significant. A level partitioning diagram was developed from the nine drivers to illustrate how these drivers need to be implemented to promote the best practices in academic support in HE.

Practical implications

The identified drivers and their categories can be used to set prioritised guidelines for academics and other educational institutions to improve students’ overall satisfaction.

Originality/value

Novelty from the study will be the developed drivers and the level partitioning diagram to assist academics and academic institutions in successfully integrating academic support into HE curricula.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 22 March 2024

Sheak Salman, Shah Murtoza Morshed, Md. Rezaul Karim, Rafat Rahman, Sadia Hasanat and Afia Ahsan

The imperative to conserve resources and minimize operational expenses has spurred a notable increase in the adoption of lean manufacturing within the context of the circular…

Abstract

Purpose

The imperative to conserve resources and minimize operational expenses has spurred a notable increase in the adoption of lean manufacturing within the context of the circular economy across diverse industries in recent years. However, a notable gap exists in the research landscape, particularly concerning the implementation of lean practices within the pharmaceutical industry to enhance circular economy performance. Addressing this void, this study endeavors to identify and prioritize the pivotal drivers influencing lean manufacturing within the pharmaceutical sector.

Findings

The outcome of this rigorous examination highlights that “Continuous Monitoring Process for Sustainable Lean Implementation,” “Management Involvement for Sustainable Implementation” and “Training and Education” emerge as the most consequential drivers. These factors are deemed crucial for augmenting circular economy performance, underscoring the significance of management engagement, training initiatives and a continuous monitoring process in fostering a closed-loop practice within the pharmaceutical industry.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute valuable insights for decision-makers aiming to adopt lean practices within a circular economy framework. Specifically, by streamlining the process of developing a robust action plan tailored to the unique needs of the pharmaceutical sector, our study provides actionable guidance for enhancing overall sustainability in the manufacturing processes.

Originality/value

This study represents one of the initial efforts to systematically identify and assess the drivers to LM implementation within the pharmaceutical industry, contributing to the emerging body of knowledge in this area.

Details

International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2690-6090

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 March 2024

John Aliu, Doyin Hellen Agbaje, Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke and Andrew Ebekozien

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the driving forces behind the adoption of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) principles in building designs from the perspectives…

Abstract

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the driving forces behind the adoption of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) principles in building designs from the perspectives of Nigerian quantity surveying firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was used which involved administering a well-structured questionnaire to a sample of 114 quantity surveyors. The collected data were analyzed using various statistical methods, including frequencies, percentages, mean item scores, Kruskal–Wallis test and exploratory factor analysis.

Findings

The top five ranked drivers were climate change mitigation, conservation of natural resources, reduction of waste and pollution, use of sustainable building materials and development of new materials and building systems. Based on the factor analysis, the study identified five clusters of drivers: (1) health and well-being drivers (2) economic drivers (3) environmental drivers (4) innovation and technology drivers and (5) regulatory drivers.

Practical implications

The findings from this study suggest that to effectively integrate IEQ principles, quantity surveying firms should consider developing comprehensive guidelines and checklists that align with the identified drivers and clustered categories. These resources can serve as practical tools for project teams, facilitating a structured and holistic approach to the incorporation of IEQ factors throughout the project lifecycle.

Originality/value

The study’s identification of the top drivers and the subsequent clustering of these drivers into five distinct categories contributes to the existing body of knowledge on IEQ. This approach provides a structured framework for comprehensively understanding the factors influencing IEQ adoption, offering a valuable tool for researchers, policymakers and industry practitioners.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 March 2024

Innocent Chigozie Osuizugbo, Opeyemi Olanrewaju Oyeyipo and Aduragbemi Deborah Olojo

This study investigates the drivers of CSR practices among construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria.

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates the drivers of CSR practices among construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a questionnaire survey to achieve the aim. A purposefully chosen group of managing directors, directors, other senior construction experts or management personnel working for small, medium and large-sized construction enterprises in Nigeria were given questionnaires to complete. 196 questionnaires were issued, out of which 103 were properly completed and returned, with a return percentage of 61% which served as the basis for this study. Utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistics, the collected data were examined.

Findings

The results from the study revealed that “vision of the founder”, “creating public attention”, “competitive advantage” and “business strategy” were the top most four drivers of CSR initiatives among construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria. The results also showed that, there is a statistically significant degree of agreement between various categories of construction companies in Lagos, Nigeria regarding the drivers of CSR initiatives.

Originality/value

The study contributes more effectively to CSR studies by highlighting the drivers of CSR initiatives in construction companies. The finding would facilitate the adoption and implementation of CSR initiatives in construction organizations. The adoption of best CSR practices fosters strong relationship among construction companies, project stakeholders and communities.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 June 2010

Takahiro Wada, Shoji Hiraoka and Shun'ichi Doi

The purpose of this paper is to realize a smooth and secure brake assistance system to avoid rear‐end collision of automobiles.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to realize a smooth and secure brake assistance system to avoid rear‐end collision of automobiles.

Design/methodology/approach

It is important to judge necessity of deceleration assistance as early as possible and initiate the assistance naturally in order to reduce rear‐end crashes. However, it easily results in driver's discomfort. In addition, deceleration profile of the automatic braking is also important to realize smooth collision avoidance. In this paper, a deceleration assistance control for collision avoidance will be proposed based on the formulated braking behavior models of expert drivers to realize smooth, secure brake assistance.

Findings

The proposed brake assistance system can realize smooth deceleration profile and appropriate final status of the two vehicles for various approaching conditions. In addition, experimental results using a driving simulator will show validity of the proposed system based on subjective evaluation. It is also shown that the system realizes smooth deceleration control even under existence of the interaction between human driver and the system.

Research limitations/implications

This paper does not deal with effect of the deceleration method on change of drivers' behavior, including driver's trust on the system. Over‐trust should be eliminated if any.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is to derive smooth secure collision avoidance system based on the driver's perceptual risk model. This method can realize smooth collision avoidance behavior for the various approaching conditions with a unified simple algorithm.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 37 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 1992

Edith Gulian‐Minshull

Describes coping strategies which make it possible to counteractand prevent driver stress. Driver stress is defined by increasedaggression and alertness, a dislike of driving, and…

Abstract

Describes coping strategies which make it possible to counteract and prevent driver stress. Driver stress is defined by increased aggression and alertness, a dislike of driving, and frustration and irritation elicited by interaction with other road‐users, in particular in relation to overtaking. It is associated with life stresses and health and emotional problems and affects the driver′s road safety.

Details

Employee Councelling Today, vol. 4 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-8217

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 April 2015

Rameshwar Dubey and Angappa Gunasekaran

The purpose of this paper is to identify traits and skills of a truck driver for sustainable transportation, develop a theoretical framework and outline further research…

2332

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify traits and skills of a truck driver for sustainable transportation, develop a theoretical framework and outline further research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study undertakes a review of extant literature and appreciative inquiry, a quasi-ethnographic approach to identify traits and skills of a truck driver. Further, using a pragmatic approach, a theoretical framework has been developed.

Findings

The study proposes a theoretical framework, which can be further used for formulating training modules for truck drivers for sustainable transportation and logistics.

Research limitations/implications

The present framework needs to be statistically validated using survey data and second, the proposition of the theoretical framework needs to be tested using hierarchical regression analysis. Second, in the study the authors have used AI. However, the authors have only interviewed selected senior police officials. This may lead to bias and to further strengthen the present study, one needs to identify other regulatory authorities and human resource managers of transportation companies. However, in Indian subcontinent situation the trucks are primarily owned by unorganized sector. Hence, the owners may have five to ten trucks and this case there is no human resource manager. However, in such case an interview with truck owners may provide a useful insight.

Practical implications

The study has outlined recommendations on the basis of a literature review of extant literature and appreciative inquiry. The recommendations can further help policy makers or technical bodies run by a government agencies or privately managed to develop a training module for truck drivers to meet the future challenges of sustainable transportation.

Social implications

This research is related to truck drivers and their welfare as well as how they can contribute to sustainable transportation and logistics.

Originality/value

This research attempts to identify traits and skills of a truck driver for a sustainable transportation and logistics, and develops a theoretical framework and outline further research directions. This particular study ventures into new domain (the role of truck driver's role in sustainable logistics and transportation).

Details

Industrial and Commercial Training, vol. 47 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0019-7858

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1970

The Minister of Transport, in exercise of his powers under section 98 of the Transport Act 1968 and of all other enabling powers, and after consultation with representative…

Abstract

The Minister of Transport, in exercise of his powers under section 98 of the Transport Act 1968 and of all other enabling powers, and after consultation with representative organisations in accordance with section 101(6) of the said Act of 1968, hereby makes the following Regulations:—

Details

Managerial Law, vol. 8 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0309-0558

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